The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-10-30
painful question: in these extraordinary

painful question In these extraordinary
words.
Il want 10 know, if you please. whether i
am in danger Of going mad"
Some men might have been amused. and
some might have been alarmed DR.
Wybrow was only conscious Of a sense Of
disappointment Was this the rare case that
he had anticipated, judging rashly by APP
pearancesi Was the new patient only
hypochondriacal woman, whoe malay was
a disordered stomach, and whose misfortune
wa weak brain' why do sou come 70
meT he asked. sharply Why don't you
consult doctor whose special employment
is the treatment OF the insane:
She had her answer ready on the instant
If don't 20 to doctor Of that sort, -le
said. "for the very reason that he is a special
ist: he has the fatal habit Of Judging every
body by lines aud rules Of his OWN laying
down come 10 YOU because my case Is out
side Of all line, and rules. and because Nou are
famous in your profession for the discovery
OF mysteries in disease Are you satisfied
He was more than sati.fed-his first idea
had been the right idea, after all Besides.
she was correctly informed ~ 30 hi, profes-
sional position. The capacity which had
raised him 10 fame and fortune was his ca
pacity (unrivaled among bis brethren for the
discovery Of remote disease
u am at your disposal he answered. let
me try if can find out what is the matter
with YOU
lie put his medical questions. They were
promptly and plainly answered and they let
70 no other conclusion than that the strange
lady was mentally and physically, in excel.
lent health N0t satisfied with questions, he
carefully examined the great organs OF life.
Neither his hand nor his stethoscope could
discover anything that was amiss. With the
admirable patience and devotion 10 his art
which mad distinguished him from the time
when he was a student, he still subjected her
10 one test after another. The result was
always toe same Not only was there no
tendency 10 brain disease-there was not
even a perceptible arrangement u the nery-
Gus system II can find nothing the matter
with you,' be said u can't even account
for the extraordinary pallor Of your COM
pIexion You completely puzzle me
"rhe palor of my complexion D. nothing
she answered. little imratently I'm my
early life had narrow escape from death
by poisoning 1 have never bad COM
plexion since, and my skin Is so delicate i
cannot paint without producing hideous
rash But that Is of no importance. !
wanted your opinion given positively. be-
licyed i'm You, and you have disappointed
me" Her head dropped on her breast.
And so it ends" she said to herself bitterly.
The doctors sympathies We're touched.
his professional pride was little hurt SIC
may end in the right way yet, he remarked
"if YOU choose to helpsne"
She looked up again with flashing eyes.
Speak plainly she said. "How can help
YOU"
Plainly. madame. you come 10 me a. an
enigma. and YOU leave me 20 make the right
guess by the unaided efforts Of my art. My
art will 10 much but not all For example,
something must have occuTed-something
quite mconnected with the state Of your
bodily bealth-to brighten You about your
self, or YOU would never have come here to
consult me Is that true|
She casped her hands in her lap. THAT is
tuel~ She said eagerly u begin TO believe
in you again.
)ut the moral cause which has alarmed you
/ can positively discover that there is no
physical cause for alarm; and unles, You
admit me- % your confidence I can DO uo
more
She rose and took a turn in the room
Suppose cell youT She said But. mind,
shall mention no names"
There is no need 90 mention names. The
fact, are all want
"rhe facts are nothing, She reioined Il
nave only my own impressions o. confess
and YOU viii very likely thuk me "a fmciful
fool when you bear what they are 80 mat-
tor wil. do my best TO content yon--l wiI
Begin witn tue facts that you want Take
ny word for IT, they won't DO much % help
YOU"
She sat down again In the planest posi-
bic words She began the suauge.t and wild.
Est confession that hal ever reached the
lOctor's ears